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Syria’s post-Assad transition reveals how revolutions often end not with resolution but with reconfigured power. This Global Canvas blog examines the rapid collapse of the Syrian state, the rise of Ahmed al Sharaa, shifting regional alliances, and the tensions between stability, legitimacy, and justice. Tracing the roles of Turkey, the United States, Russia, and Iran, it explores how unfinished revolutions reshape sovereignty, identity, and geopolitics in fragile post-conflic

2025 was a formative year for Johnson Odakkal Initiatives. Beyond milestones, it brought clarity of purpose, stronger partnerships, and a deeper commitment to people-led education. From national textbook contributions and leadership summits to the growth of the JOI team and Global Canvas, this reflection captures a year where progress slowed down, alignment strengthened, and meaningful impact quietly took shape.

Missiles launched from Yemen’s mountains forced global shipping to reroute thousands of miles, quietly reshaping prices, supply chains, and everyday life far beyond the Middle East. The Red Sea crisis exposed how fragile global trade has become when maritime chokepoints meet hybrid warfare. More than a regional conflict, it revealed a new geoeconomics of vulnerability where non-state actors can disrupt the rhythms of the global economy.

The Thailand–Cambodia border dispute is not just about territory, but about history, heritage, and power. Rooted in colonial-era ambiguities and symbolised by contested temples like Preah Vihear, the conflict shows how nationalism and domestic politics turn ceasefires into temporary pauses. This Global Canvas episode explains why legal rulings and cultural recognition alone cannot deliver lasting peace in Southeast Asia.

In 2025, Indonesia, the Philippines and Nepal witnessed a powerful surge of youth-led protests that challenged corruption, privilege and censorship. This Global Canvas episode traces how Gen Z transformed dissent into a regional movement, reshaping politics, identity and the future of governance across Asia.

From naval decks to seminar rooms, this piece reflects on how power moves — in steel, strategy, and ideas. In a world where the compass spins wildly, wisdom lies in holding steady bearings shaped by experience, history, and mentorship.

This Teacher’s Day, reflects on the pressures silencing India’s teachers. Beyond policies and hierarchies, true empowerment means restoring joy, mentoring with care, and reclaiming pedagogy as a space of freedom, discovery, and light.

India’s response to U.S. tariff pressure is more than a trade dispute — it’s a reaffirmation of strategic autonomy. From refusing to bow on Russian oil imports to protecting agriculture and rural livelihoods, New Delhi is signaling that its economic and foreign policy decisions will be made at home, not abroad. This standoff underscores a deeper geopolitical truth: India’s rise is defined by independence in both principle and practice.

Space, once a symbol of boundless progress, is now littered with debris posing growing risks in orbit and on Earth. From satellite collisions to falling rocket parts, the fallout raises urgent questions about global responsibility and equity. As powerful nations and companies dominate the skies, less powerful ones face the consequences. Without action, the global commons above us may become dangerously ungovernable.

South Korea’s democracy, shaped by struggle and civic resistance, faced one of its greatest tests between 2022–2025. From razor-thin elections to a shocking martial law declaration, the nation stood at a political crossroads. This episode of Global Canvas unpacks how institutional strength, civic will, and geopolitical pressures collided and what South Korea’s response tells us about the fragility and future of democracy.

Life at sea is more than just vast horizons and thrilling voyages, it’s a test of endurance, resilience, and humanity. In this reflective piece, Commodore (Dr) Johnson Odakkal shares gripping real-life experiences and highlights the mental and emotional toll of seafaring. As the world marks the International Day of the Seafarer 2025, the call for harassment-free, inclusive, and supportive ships becomes louder and more urgent than ever.

Another Episode of “Global Canvas” by JOI Global Canvas is back!  After a brief hiatus and with a fresh new look on our redeveloped...

Reset. Reroot. Rise: Choosing High Road Leadership That Lasts Discover how to lead with grace when applause fades. Inspired by John Maxwell’s High Road Leadership, this reflection unveils a strategy for lasting impact.

Another Episode of “Global Canvas” by JOI The Arctic and Antarctic are vanishing at an alarming pace. According to the US National...

Greenland’s 2025 elections mark turning point with voters weighing independence, economic growth, and global influence in Arctic geopolitics

Another Episode of “Global Canvas” by JOI War is not just fought on battlefields—it is waged on bodies. In Sudan’s ongoing civil war,...

Another Episode of “Global Canvas” by JOI Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have reached new heights. North Korea’s latest ballistic...

Another Episode of “Global Canvas” by JOI In a historic turn of events, South Africa's 2024 general election marked the end of the...

Another Episode of “Global Canvas” by JOI " Trade agreements are never just about trade ." This statement rings true as the European...

Another Episode of “Global Canvas” by JOI This week on Global Canvas , we turn our attention to an escalating crisis that is reshaping...